'Taken' TV series to star 'Vikings' actor as Bryan Mills

I don’t know who you are. I don’t know what you want. But if you are looking for somebody to star in NBC’s version of the hit film franchise Taken, I can tell you you’re going to need an actor with a very particular set of skills. Skills that he’s acquired over a long career. Skills that make him a dream for TV fans like us. And that man is … Vikings star Clive Standen!

Standen has landed the lead role in NBC’s straight-to-series reboot, playing the relentless ex-CIA operative Bryan Mills whose family is unwisely messed with. In addition to his role on History’s Vikings, the British actor has been on Starz’ Camelot and had an arc on Doctor Who.

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If you’re a Vikings fan, you might be asking: Does this mean Standen is leaving the show? We’re told he’s definitely committed through the rest of the current fourth season (the first 10 episodes are airing now; the second half airs later this year). Showrunner Michael Hirst has teased a “final reckoning” this season between Rollo (Standen) and his brother Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) this year.

The original 2008 thriller Taken starring Liam Neeson spawed two sequels. Alex Cary (Homeland) is the showrunner and Alex Graves (Game of Thrones) will direct the first episode. You might be thinking that you don’t want yet another movie rebooted into a TV show. But listen to me very carefully: You’re going to watch Taken. Leave your DVR on. Tell us everything you can!